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"Not happy with children's speech therapy service"

About: Children & younger people's services / Children's Speech and Language Therapy

(as a service user),

We were given activities to practise at home that my son can’t do. I did tell the therapist at the time he can’t do them, but was made to feel like a pushy parent and basically ignored and told to just do it anyway.

No in-person help was given. Two virtual sessions on the laptop and then discharged, even though I told them he can’t do any of the targets set.

I was told I can call back anytime if he needs more help and will be seen with no wait. Rang back. Therapist has left and I was told to send a video in for them to look at and decide if my son can be seen again... so much for the "no wait"! Still heard nothing and this now 6 weeks ago.

Since being referred 9 months ago, to now, I don’t feel I’ve received anything useful to practice at home, and my son’s speech is getting worse and him more upset. I am looking into private therapy so someone will actually see him face to face and give regular support.

Having chatted with friends with children with speech difficulties, this seems to be how it is.

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Responses

Response from Julie Belshaw, Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist, Specialist Services, Health Partnerships 3 years ago
Julie Belshaw
Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist, Specialist Services,
Health Partnerships
Submitted on 16/06/2022 at 10:28
Published on Care Opinion at 10:33


Thank you for taking the time to leave feedback about the service. I'm sorry that your experience wasn't positive.

Unfortunately the service is experiencing an extremely high number of referrals and demand for support for children is at an all time high. As a service we are endeavouring to support all families as best we can without a wait, but sometimes is a short wait is unavoidable. I would advise you call the SPA on 0300 1233387 if you haven't had a call back for 6 weeks as the service aims to call all parents back within 7 days. It may be that your therapist is absent from work and the case can be re-allocated.

Due to the high demand on the service, a child's first package of care is delivered by video call to get you in as quickly as we can and ensure you have some advice and strategies in place to support your child. Subsequent packages of support could be offered via video, clinic, home or school visits, depending on clinical need.

Therapy programmes are aimed at developing a new skill so it's entirely normal for your child not to be able to do the activities at the point that they are given. Hopefully with regular practise, they will soon make progress and begin to develop the target skill.

Please do call the SPA regarding your next appointment on the number as the service is committed to supporting you and your child.

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